William henry baenum



(No Model.)

" W. H. BARNUM.

GARMENT SUPPORTER- No 542,624. Patented July 16, 1895.

lgaegfr William/ 7556271; a7. W 11 gasses 5 An-a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

iVILLlAM HENRY BARNUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,624, dated July 16, 1 895. Application filed February 9, 1895- Serial No. 537,811. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HENRY BAR- NUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Garment-Supporter, of. which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in garment-supporters; and the object of my invention is to produce a clasp or clamp which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, combine strength and durability, and

which shall be self-acting or automatic in op-' eration.

My invention consists of a clamping device having certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved garmentsupporter, the jaws thereof open. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the jaws closed. Fig. 3 isa view of the upper part of my clamping device, showing the spring-jaws, inclined edges, &c. Fig. i is a detached view of the sliding clip which operates in connection with the spring-jawsfor closing the latter to clasp the garment.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the usual supporting 'band or strap for upholding the garment-clasp, the latter being adapted to engage the loop 2 formed therein.

3 3 represent two downwardly-extending spring-arms, and & indicates a cross-bar connecting the upper ends of the spring-arms 3 3 and passing through the loop 2 of the supporting-strap 1. The arms 3 3 and the crossbar 4 connecting the same at their upper ends are preferably made from a single piece of hard-rolled sheet metal, whereby said arms 3 3 are adapted to spring apart to a slight ex tent, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The arms 3 3 upon the outer edges thereof are provided with inclined edges converging downwardly, as shown.

5 5 indicate shoulders formed at the upper end of said inclined edges, and 6 6, similar j shoulders at the base of said inclined edges 'for the purpose which will appear.

7 indicates a sliding clip, shown detached in Fig. 4. The clip 7 is provided with a central slit 8, extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof, and 9 9 indicate two bent-over portions forming j aws, having a fixed relation to said sliding clip and adapted to engage the outer inclined edges of the spring-arms 3 3. The jaws 9 9 partially embrace the springarms 3 3, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby said clip is made inseparable from the other part of the clasp. The clip 7 is in this way adapted to slide up and down relatively to the arms 3 3 and to operate upon the inclined downwardly-diverging outer edges of said springarms to force the latter together for the purpose of clasping the garment between them. The stops or shoulders 5 and 6 limit the upward and downward movement of the clip 7 and prevent its escape or accidental displacement.

To clasp the garment an edge or small portion thereof is inserted through the open space between the spring-arms 3 3 and drawn down wardly until it comes in contact with the sliding clip 7, which is thereby forced downward,

acting, as above explained, to close the jaws 3 3 upon the garment. To release the garment the sliding clip is pushed upward, thereby releasing the spring-arms, allowing them to move apart, when the garment may be withdrawn.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A garment supporter or clasp comprising two spring jaws disconnected at their oper ative or clamping ends and converging toward said ends, and a one piece clip having a sliding relation to said jaws and provided with a central slit in alignment with the inner edges of the jaws for engaging the material of the garment, whereby the latter is caused to operate upon the clip and slide said clip upon the spring jaws for causing the latter to clasp the garment, substantially as specified.

2. In a garment support or clasp, the combination with two spring jaws converging toward their operative or clamping ends and formed with oppositely diverging outer edges and with stops or shoulders, of a sliding clip adjustable lengthwise of and embracing said spring jaws for the purpose of closing the same, and limited in its movements by said stops or shoulders, said clip being provided with a central slit in alignment with the clamping edges of the jaws, said slit being adapted to engage the material of the garment, whereby said clip is moved relatively to the jaws and the latter caused to clasp the garment, substantially in the manner specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 15 my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY BARNUM.

Witnesses:

EDWIN E. ZIlTEL, PHILIP V. PECK. 

